Help your patients succeed as they resolve to live healthier in 2022.

According to online sources, an estimated 188.9 million American adults are determined to learn something new, make a lifestyle change or set a personal goal in an effort to better. That’s almost 75% of the adult population! And if this new year is anything like 2021, the most popular resolutions are likely to be: (1) exercising more and improving fitness; (2) losing weight; (3) bettering finances; and (4) improving diet and nutrition. Also making the list – perhaps due to the unique challenges of recent times – is a desire to better one’s mental and emotional well-being.

Although New Year’s resolutions are notoriously hard to keep . . . here’s an interesting twist. For many people, COVID has had a positive impact when it comes to setting and reaching goals. A recent survey finds 84% of Americans saying that after the COVID experience “they’ve learned to let go of worrying about that which can’t be controlled,” and with greater focus on personal goals that are attainable, the survey finds Americans are reaching their goals more often. The percentage of respondents who stuck to New Year’s resolutions in 2021 was significantly higher (by almost 25%) than the previous year.

10 Ways to Keep a New Year’s Resolution
When making resolutions, keep this in mind: Consider your goals as a way to make you happier — and not deprived.

1. Start with a positive mindset. Be ready to change and know you can do it!
2. Make resolutions for the right reasons. Resolutions should have a deep personal importance to you rather than what others expect of you or what someone else wants.
3. Limit your number of New Year’s resolutions. And here’s the key: set realistic goals!
4. Start with smaller micro-goals that are measurable. For example, resolve to “lose 1 pound a week” instead of “lose weight.”
5. Prioritize time in your schedule. It often takes additional time and effort to work on your goals, especially those related to fitness, sleep and self-improvement. Plan for it.
6. Document your progress. Keeping track of your successes helps you stay focused on keeping your resolutions.
7. Get plenty of sleep. Proper sleep plays a major factor in the success (or failure) of most New Year resolutions. A lack of sleep can alter certain hormones, which in turn increases appetite, promotes fat storage, or causes poor food choices. For those with fitness goals, adequate sleep improves speed, strength and endurance.
8. Embrace the buddy system. It’s hard to do it alone. Having a supportive friend with similar goals can make a huge difference. Accountability helps us stick to the plan.
9. Reward yourself along the way. Resolutions should not be all work and no fun. Occasional rewards provide proof that your plan is working and that you are improving little by little.
10. Be patient and forgiving. Even with the best of intentions, there will be ups and downs along the way. Remember that no one is perfect and that you are on the right path.

Marketing Application
Hospitals and their associated clinics likely offer a number of health-related services that can help people in their communities achieve their goals and make good on those New Year’s resolutions. A new year is the perfect opportunity to raise awareness of services such as bariatric surgery, fitness centers, therapy and rehabilitation programs, nutritional counseling, weight loss programs or smoking cessation support groups. Making these services “easy to try” is important, so consider offering free limited time memberships, free consultations or other ways of encouraging participation and limiting barriers. Effective marketing tools should include a strong call to action and an invitation to learn more or schedule an appointment. These messages can be delivered effectively through social media, digital media and traditional print.

About Brentwood Communications, Inc.
Brentwood Communications specializes in healthcare marketing. Through our monthly AdBank subscription service, thousands of field-tested marketing materials — including content related to health and wellness — are available and can be easily customized to reflect your hospital or clinic’s existing brand.